How to Automate Daily Linux Health Checks with a Bash Script + Cron

System admins know this: small problems left unchecked turn into big ones. Keeping an eye on your Linux server’s health can catch those issues before they snowball. But let’s be real—nobody wants to log in every day and run a checklist by hand. The fix? Automation.

Here’s how you can automate daily Linux health checks using a simple Bash script and cron.

What Should You Check?

Before we script, let’s nail down what a “health check” should include. Common essentials:

• Disk usage
• Memory usage
• CPU load
• Uptime
• Critical service status (like SSH, web server, database)
• Recent errors in system logs

You can customize this list to fit your server and needs.

Step 1: Write the Bash Script

Below is a sample script, healthcheck.sh. Tweak it as needed.

#!/bin/bash

REPORT="/var/log/daily_health_report.txt"
HOST=$(hostname)

{
  echo "Linux Health Report for $HOST - $(date)"
  echo "----------------------------------------"
  echo

  echo "Disk Usage:"
  df -h
  echo

  echo "Memory Usage:"
  free -m
  echo

  echo "CPU Load:"
  uptime
  echo

  echo "Critical Services:"
  systemctl is-active sshd
  systemctl is-active apache2 2>/dev/null || systemctl is-active httpd 2>/dev/null
  systemctl is-active mysql 2>/dev/null || systemctl is-active mariadb 2>/dev/null
  echo

  echo "Recent System Errors:"
  journalctl -p 3 -b --no-pager | tail -n 10
  echo

} > "$REPORT"

Tips:

• Save this file somewhere secure, e.g., /usr/local/bin/healthcheck.sh.
• Make it executable: chmod +x /usr/local/bin/healthcheck.sh.

Download the Script:
Script – https://mega.nz/file/KZ1UnQ6Z#dAA6rQetNFnDO3-jT-LaCNq9qVvyKc9yM_jGPzngsps

Step 2: Set Up Cron for Daily Checks

Open your crontab editor:

crontab -e

Add this line to run the script every day at 7am:

0 7 * * * /usr/local/bin/healthcheck.sh

That’s it—the script runs every morning, and you’ll get a fresh report at /var/log/daily_health_report.txt.

Step 3: (Optional) Email the Report

If you want these reports in your inbox, add this line to your script after the closing }:

mail -s "Daily Health Report for $HOST" [email protected] < "$REPORT"

Make sure you have mail or mailx installed and configured on your server.

Why Automate?

Automation saves you time and helps you catch issues early. Daily reports show trends and weird spikes before they cause downtime. Plus, with everything logged, you have a record to look back on.

Final Thoughts

A few lines of Bash and a cron job can save hours of manual work—and maybe save your server, too. Start small, tweak as needed, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your Linux system is always being watched.

Need more detail, or want a customized health script? Drop a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!